Fire-truck ladder



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. ALBERT.

FIRE TRUCK LADDER. No. 401,623. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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N. PETERS. Plwmulho m hu. wasllmgion n, c.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

0. ALBERT. FIRE TRUCK LADDER.

No. 401,623. Ptented Apr. 16, 1889.

w I I I 1 l I- A a a h w o L 0 N. PETERS, Pnolc-bthagmphur. wmin m. nc

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

' No Model.)

0. ALBERT.

FIRE TRUCK LADDER.

Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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N. PETERS, mowumc hu. wumn nm n. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet s.

G. ALBERT.

FIRE TRUCK LADDER.

Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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N. PH'ERS phololilhngrapher. willhiwglbll. 0.0.

7 UNITED STATES ATENT irrrcn.

CHARLES ALBERT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

FIRE-TRUCK LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'No. 401,623, dated April16, 18819.

Application filed. February 18 1888. Serial No, 264,474. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALBERT, a resident of Cincinnati, in thecounty of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Truck Ladders, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention belongs or relates to that class of fire-ladders in whichthe sections of ladders can be elevated to the desired height from aplatform on the truck. When the sections of ladders are elevated to thedesired height, access to any desired portion of the burning building ishad by means of the auxiliary top ladders, which latter form a bridgefrom the building to the ladder proper.

The various parts of mechanism are operated from the platform of thetruck. I also provide mechanism for revolving all the ladder-sectionsand for inclining them at any desired angle from the platform of thetruck. I am enabled to reach any window in the burning building and toescape coming in contact with telegraph and telephone wires. By reasonof the mechanism for inclining the ladder-sections at any angle mydevice may be used on an undulated surface.

WVith slight alterations my invention may be used for a temporarylight-house for oceansteamers or as a point of observation in time ofwar.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fire ladder and truck, andFig. 2 is a rear elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken atline 00 .r, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of two of the sections partlywithdrawn, showing the arrangement of pulleys and ropes for hoisting orelevating the sections. Fig. 5 is atop view of one of the plates whichconnect the posts of the va' rious sections, showing the rollers overwhich the ropes for elevating the sections pass. Fig. 6 is a bottom viewof the truck. Fig. 7

is a top view of the upper section, showing the auxiliary laddersextended. Fig. 8 is a side view of the auxiliary ladders, partly brokenaway, also showing the position of the rope for extending same. Fig. 9is a crosssection of the auxiliary ladders. Fig. 10 is a side view ofthe three top sections, showing arrangement of the ropes for elevatingthe sections, also showing the fire-escape basket tion, No. 1.

and the top auxiliaryladders partly extended. Fig. 11 is a top view ofone of the plates which connect the posts of the sections,

showing the means employed for stopping and Y A represents fourstandards, rigidly connected in any suitable manner to the circularplatform A, which latter rests on the plate S. This plate S has twoarms, S rigidly connected thereto, which arms S are pivotally connectedat S to the frame-Work S of the truck. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Thestandards A are united at the top by the plate A These standards andplate form the first sec= The other sections are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7. The sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are each formed of four posts,a, and each of said posts is united at the bottom by plates a, eachplate having two holes, G on each of their four sides. larly Fig. 3.)The top of the posts of sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are united by thetop plates, of. The bottom and top plates are rigidly united to theposts in any suitable manner.

The upper section telescopes into the section immediately beneath it,and these two into the next section, and so on until all the (See moreparticutop sections are telescoped into the lower sec tion. Any desirednumber of sections may be employed. 011 the lower section, No. 1, is across-piece, (0 (see Fig. 1,) to which is rigidly connected the lowerend of a ladder, (t the upper end of said ladder being connected to thetop plate, A of the section. A ladder, a, is' also hinged to saidcross-piece a, and

extends-down to the platform of the truck. 1

Additional ladders b are also provided for each of the sections 2, 3, 4,5, 6, and 7, which ladders are connected to the top and bottom plates ofeach section in any suitable manner.

is the large ratchet-wheel d.

and the handle (1 On one end of shaft cl is the large gear-wheel d andat the other end In connection with ratchet-Wheel (1 I employ a pawl, e,which is'attached loosely to one of the standards A, (see Fig. 1,) andin connection with the ratchet-wheel d the pawl e is employed, whichlatter is rigidly attached to one end of the movable rod or bane whichworks loosely in the side pieces, 0 c. This bar 6 is operated by thehandle e (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.)

To the circular platform A are attached the pulleys B, and to the topplate of the lower section are attached, in any suitable manner, thepulleys B. (See Fig.1.) The ropes B pass over these pulleys B and B.These ropes B are attached to the ends of shaft 01, and then are passeddown under the pulleys B, up over pulleys B, and then down, passingthrough holes in the pieces h and ending in knots h, to keep the ropesfrom pulling through said holes. I (See Fig. 2.) These pieces h areattached to the lower plate, a, of section No. 2. The ropes B elevatesection No. 2, when the shaft (1 is turned by means of hand-Wheel (1 Onthe top plate, A of the lower section are attached the eyes W, to whichare fastened the ropes B (See Figs. 1 and 2.) These ropes B pass up overthe pulleys B (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) and then. pass throughholes in the bottom plate of section No. 3. Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7have a somewhat similar pulleyand rope construction, differing only inhaving the ends of the ropes B attached to cross-bars B instead of toeyes, as W. The cross-bars B are rigidly attached between the arms D D,the pulleys B being loosely connected between said arms.

The manner in which the pulley-and-rope connections of sections 3, 4, 5,6, and 7 are formed is shown in detail in Figs. 4:, 5, and 10. The ropesB are attached to cross-bars B on two sides of the top plate of eachsection, pass over pulleys B and then pass downward through holes a inthe lower plate of each section, ending in a knot, 70, to keep the ropesfrom pulling through said holes. Thus each of the sections (exceptsection No. 1) is suspended, as shown in Figs. at and 10.

E and E represent auxiliary ladders. The ladder E slides in ways m ofthe ladder E, the lower bars, m, resting and sliding on the foot-rails mEach of these ladders is provided with the side rails, m and also withthe foot-boards m A shaft, F, extends entirely across the lowe section,having on one end the handle F, and on the other end the ratchet-wheel Fwhich latter is in connection with the pawl F (See Fig. 2.) The ropes Gare attached to this shaft F and pass up from said shaft over pulleys G,then down over pulleys G to the ladder E being secured to the top E ofsaid cage Eviz., by hanging arms, as E When the shaft F is turned in theproper direction, the

cage E and consequently the laddersE and E,

will be elevated by reason of the rope G winding upon said shaft. Thepulley G is attached to the ladder E, as shown. At the point n on theladder E is securely fastened the rope H, which extends from saidpointover pulley G to the extension H where it is securely fastened. theladder E is being elevated the rope H pulls over the pulley G and hoistsor elevates the ladder E, so that when the ladder E is extended theextension of ladder E is also effected.

H represents a standard attached to the basket, in which the auxiliaryladders E and E rest and are raised and lowered, carrying at its upperend the pulley L and a lantern. Said standard moves up and down withsaid basket and auxiliary ladders.

On an extension, H are attached the pulleys n (see Fig. 1,) over whichthe ropes J pass, said ropes extending from the shaft d down to the eye71 in ladder E, where it is securely attached. (See Fig. 10.) By turningthe shaft d in the proper direction the rope J is wound thereon, andthus the auxiliary ladders E and E and the cage E are lowered into thespace formed by the sections. (See Fig. 1.)

J and J 2 represent two small gear-wheels, the wheel J 2 acting as anidler. These wheels are suitably secured to a plate, J by short shafts0, which shafts extend from said plate J to the piece 0'. (See Fig. 1.)To the wheel J is rigidly secured the handle 0 To the shaft 0, on whichthe gear J and handle 0 are attached, is fastened the rope K. This ropepasses up over pulley 0 on the arms 0, and then down in the space formedby the sections, and is attached to the fire-escape basket K. The rope Kelevates the basket K, when the former is wound upon the shaft 0, thelatter being operated by the handle 0 and gear J. The pawl K attached tothe plate J acts in connection with the gears J and J To a shaft whichextends across the device, and which carries at one end the han-.

dle L, is securely fastened one end of the guide-rope L. This ropeextends down under the pulleys L and L (shown in dotted lines in Fig.2,) and then up through the basket K and neck K and is attached to thepulley L This rope L guides said basket.

To the bottom of the circular platform A is rigidly attached in anysuitable manner the Consequently when wheel, and the latter beingrigidly attached to the circular platform A the revolution of said wheelin either direction causes the lad der-sections to revolve in eitherdirection, whether the ladders be raised or lowered.

P and P represent strengthening-strips.

P P represent two semicircular arms secured to the plate S (on whichrests the cir cular platform A) by screws P To the lowest point of thesearms are loosely secured by a pin or bolt connection, P one end of thelong inclined rods P P the other end of said rods being secured at P ina similar manner to the nut-block P The lugs R Rare screwthreaded,through which passes and works the screw-rod R, to the front end ofwhich is rigidly attached a hand-wheel, R The nutblock P is alsoscrew-threaded to allow it to work on said rod R. By turning the handwheel R to the right the nut-block P works toward the operator andcauses the inclined rods 1?, which are attached to said block P to movetoward the operator; and said rods P" being attached to the semicirculararms P, which latter are attached to the plate S, (on which rest thecircular platform A and sections,) the revolution of hand-wheel R causesthe plate, platform, and ladders to tilt from the operator. If thehand-wheel R be turned to the left, the plate, platform, and ladders aretilted toward the operator.

The screw-threaded pin S may be inserted in either of several holes inthe platform A and passed through the plate S, in which latter thecircular platform and ladders rest. A thumb-screw, S may then be screwedon one of said pins S, and when screwed tightly to place looks saidcircular platform to plate S, and thus prevents any revolution of saidplatform. (See Fig. 6, in which the dotted lines show the several holesin said platform A, the said platform being also shown in dotted lines.)

In Fig. 10 the posts at right-hand side are broken away to show theladders b and the manner in which the faces of the side rods areserrated or notched, said serrations being marked t in the drawings. Tothe top plates, a are attached two movable arms, 6 t, pivoted loosely atF. (See Figs. 10 and 11.) Should any of the ropes or chains whichoperate the ladders and otherparts of the device break, the arms 15 canbe moved into said serrations tand rigidly hold the sections to place atany height.

The cornerposts T are secured to the corners of the truck in such amanner that they may be revolved in either direction. The posts T attheir top portion have rigidly connected to them the short arms T,between which the supporting-legs T are loosely connected by pin 23 Thearms T being loosely connected to the revolving corner-posts T, theformer may be swung in any direction or position and dropped to theground to steady and support the truck and keep the same from moving.

If desired, the top of each ladder maybe provided with suitableplatforms, as T and T The spring-drums W are secured to the corner-posts'10ne to each post. The drums \V are held between the arms W W by a key,

and revolve thereon. One end of the coiled spring WV is fastened in aslot in the key (shown in Fig. 12,) the other end being secured at WV tothe inside face of the drum.

attached at one end to the drums and wound thereon, the other end ofsaid ropes being secured to the hooks Y on the platforms T and T Theropes act as guides to steady the sections and ladders when elevated,and, be ing placed on the four corners of the truck, hold the sectionsand ladders in proper position. \Vhen the sections are being elevated orlowered, the ropes WV are either automatically wound or unwound upon thespringdrums WV.

The springs Y are so placed that they will come in contact with theauxiliary ladders when lowered, so as not to jar the ladders andsections.

The sections are elevated as follows: The hand-wheel d is rotated, therevolution of whichturns the shaft (Z and gear-wheel (P, which lattermeshes with and operates the gear-wheel 01 This wheel 01 rotates theshaft d, on which the ropes B are wound. other ends of said ropes beingconnected at h to the lower end of section No. 2, said section ishoisted or elevated. The ropes B on each section immediately above thesection below it are securely fastened to the crosspieces B on saidlower section,and then pass over rollers B and thence down to the bottom plate, a, on the upper section, to'which they are securely fastenedat. k. Aseach section is provided with ropes B each of the uppersections is elevated at the same time that section No. 2 is beingelevated, and when said section No.2 is elevated its entire height theother sections above it will be elevated their entire height. While thesect-ions are being elevated the pawl c on the bar 6 engages theratchet-wheel d on shaft (1. When the sections are elevated to thedesired height, the pawl c engages the teeth of ratchet-wheel (i thusholding the sections in an elevated position. hen it is desired to lowerthe sections, the handle a on bar 6 is lifted, which operation tilts thebar 6 and the pawl 6' being rigidly attached to said bar the tilt ingthereof causes the pawl e to disengage from the teeth of theratchet-wheel. All the other pawls having been disengaged the sectionswill be lowered by their own weight. The operator holding the hand-wheeld allows it to revolve slowly, so that the sections will not be loweredtoo suddenly.

The

I have already described how the auxiliary ladders E and E are elevatedand lowered. I might, however, here mention that when said auxiliaryladders are about at their height the finger w on the piece V, attachedsecurely to the side of ladder E, (shown in Fig. 10,) rides over theface 10 of the post V, which latter is securely attached to the platformT. (See Fig. 7.) In this manner the said auxiliary ladders are loweredat an angle to the sections. I have also described how the fire-escapebasket is elevated and guided, and the manner in which the sections andladders can be revolved and inclined. Suitable lanterns are preferablyplaced on the sections and ladders. Minor details in construction of thesections and ladders may be altered, if desired, as may also themechanism for elevating the sections. The ropes which elevate thesections, instead of being fastened on each side of the bottom plates,may extend across said bottom, or one rope only may be used on eachside.

Parts of the mechanism herein described may be employed in connectionwith fire-tru ck ladders of a construction differing from the one hereinset forth.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, the lowersection being at tached to a movable platform, rollers B crosspieces Bropes and winding mechanism, substantially as set forth, for elevatingsaid sections, and mechanism for revolving said sections, consisting ofshaft M and gear-wheels M and M suitably supported, substantially as setforth.

2. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, the lowersection being attached to the platform of the truck, "mechanism,substantially as set forth, for raising and lowering said sections, andmechanism for inclining said sections, consisting of arms P P rods P P,block P screw R, and wheel R substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, andmechanism, substantially as described, for raising and lowering saidsections, in combination with revolving corner-posts, as T, and legs Tpivotally at' tached to said posts T and revolving with them,substantially as set forth.

4. In aiire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, andmechanism, substantially as set forth, for raising and lowering saidsections, in combination with guide-ropes, as W, and drums WV, saiddrums \V automatically winding up the guide-ropes when the sections arebeing lowered, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, andmechanism, substantially as described, for raising and lowering saidsections, each of said sections having a ladder notched at t, incombination with plates, as t, pivoted on the top plates of eachsection, substantially asset forth.

6. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, andmechanism for raising and lowering said sections, said sections beingunited at the top by top plates, a having crossrods 13*, and rollers Band bot-tom plates, a, and ropes B substantially as set forth.

7. In a fire-truck ladder, a series of telescoping sections, andmechanism, substan-v CHARLES ALBERT.

Attest:

HENRY Woosr, H. H. BUsE.

